Mar 20 (BN) Investors are betting that SL will win final approval for about $2.9 billion bailout from the IMF on Monday, a key step for the bankrupt nation to revive its economy from the worst crisis in decades. SL’s dollar bonds have returned 20% this year, the top performers in the world. The local currency surged 8% and stocks climbed 5% this month, beating their Asian peers on anticipation of billions of dollars in financing trickling in. more..

Mar 20 (USE) More than a million SL paddy farmers in all 25 districts will get vital assistance through a shipment of over 36,000 metric tons of fertilizer handed over by the US to the Ministry of Agriculture. The shipment of Triple Super Phosphate (TSP) was funded by the USAID and procured by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) for distribution free-of-charge to farmers. This second shipment of USAID-supported fertilizer is delivered on a promise USAID Administrator more..

Mar 20 (AD) The police have uncovered a hidden cache of high-power explosive materials from Avissawella, following a confession made by contract killer Booru Muna who was arrested after fleeing police custody recently. Thereby, 662 grams of C-4 type high-power explosive materials were found hidden under a utility pole on Dasawella Road in Hanwella. The explosive material stash was recovered by the crimes division of the Western Province (South) Police. more..

Mar 20 (TM) With the term of office of 340 of the 341 Local Govt (LG) bodies including Municipal Councils (MC), Urban Councils (UC) and Pradeshiya Sabha (PS) across the country ending at midnight yesterday, many politicians have expressed concerns about the sustainment of important services provided to the public through such bodies. The term of office of all LG bodies including 24 MCs, 41 UCs, and 275 PSs except for Elpitiya PS more..

Mar 20 (FT) Friends, well-wishers, peers, and students of former Kelaniya University economics Don Herath Madana Bandara have released a collection of papers in his honour under the title Contemporary issues in socio-economic development. The volume has been edited by M.M. Gunatilake, Ajith Dissanayaka, and Roshini Jayaweera, all academics attached to the Economics Department of the Uni. Papers have been presented under three main areas more..

Mar 20 (FT) The IMF has now entered the ordinary citizen’s consciousness as the most impactful global institution for us Sri Lankans at the present time. Everything from local govt elections to tax policies, that shape our daily lives and cover most of our human rights, are being affected by our relationship with the IMF. Important human rights such as Freedom of Assembly and Expression are being violated by the SL Govt in the name of its agreement with the IMF. more..

Mar 20 (EN) Forex trapped SL is planning to send 10,000 individuals to Malaysia for security guard jobs in hope of boosting foreign remittances and opening new markets for migrant workers. SL is facing an unprecedented economic crisis after it declared sovereign debt default in April last year following the island nation’s foreign currency reserves fell sharply to near one-month of imports. “Basically the Malaysian party has given the consent and the assurance to recruit Sri Lankans more..

Mar 20 (AD) The appeals filed by the defendants who were given the death penalty over the 2015 abduction, gang rape and murder of schoolgirl Sivaloganathan Vidya, seeking their acquittal from the sentences imposed on them, has been fixed for hearing by the Supreme Court. The appeal petitions were taken up before the Supreme Court bench consisting of Justices Preethi Padman Surasena, Gamini Amarasekara and Arjuna Obeysekera today. The judge bench, which considered more..

Mar 20 (CI) It took until the final thirty minutes of the final session on the fourth day, and a marathon 142 overs in the field - over 200 if you count the overs in the first innings SL followed on from - but NZ eventually broke through SL's defiant rearguard to secure an innings-and-58-run victory in the second Test at Wellington, and with it a deserved 2-0 series win. Henry Nicholls was Player of the Match for his unbeaten double-hundred, more..

Mar 20 (DM) Central Bank of SL (CBSL) has requested the Attorney General to file criminal cases against three prohibited pyramid schemes as those schemes are acting contrary to the Section 83C of the Banking Act. Accordingly, criminal cases will be filed against Fast3cycle International; Sport Chain App, Sport Chain ZS Society SL, and Onmax DT. It is reported that the CB has conducted a special investigation regarding the complaints received against the three prohibited schemes. more..

Mar 20 (EN) Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe bowed to the influential Bar Association of SL and rejected Public Security minister’s nominee for the new police chief, a source close to the president said. Tiran Alles had lobbied furiously to make controversial SDIG Deshabandu Tennakoon as successor to Chandana Wickramaratna who is due to retire later this week. “Prez said no to Deshabandu and is most likely to extend the tenure of Wickramaratna by at least another year,” more..

Mar 20 (CI) Dimuth Karunaratne wants to step down as Test captain after the Ireland Tests next month. It is an ongoing conversation with the Sri Lanka selectors, who have not accepted his resignation yet. But after four years in the job, and with a fresh World Test Championship (WTC) cycle looming, Karunaratne - who turns 35 in April - wants to hand over to a new captain for the next cycle, with Ireland Tests not a part of the current WTC. more..

Mar 20 (SLN) Navy and Police nabbed 02 suspects with 58 Water Gel Sticks - a type of commercial explosive and 100 detonators, during a special search operation conducted at the Trincomalee Bus Stand on 18th March 2023. The apprehension was made when the suspects were transferring these items by a three-wheeler. The Navy stays ever alert and conducts regular search operations to prevent illegal fishing practices carried out using explosives; as such activities deal a heavy blow to more..

Mar 20 (AD) The Court of Appeal has ordered the extension of the interim injunction which was issued preventing the hearing of a case filed against the Senior DIG in charge of the Western Province Deshabandu Tennakoon, until March 28, 2023. This order was issued when a writ petition filed by SDIG Deshabandu Tennakoon was taken up before a judge bench consisting of the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Nissanka Bandula Karunaratne and Justice A. Marikkar today. more..

Mar 20 (Island) Opposition MP Gevindu Cumaratunga alleged that the Wickremesinghe-Rajapaksa govt was going ahead with a project launched by former Justice Minister Ali Sabry with the backing of Prez Gotabaya Rajapaksa to conduct Law College examinations only in the English medium, much to the disadvantage of Sinhala and Tamil students. He urged all political parties, regardless of whatever differences, to vote against extraordinary gazette notification of 2020 more..

Mar 20 (DM) Attorney General today informed the Court of Appeal that he is expecting to raise limited objections against the writ petition filed on behalf of Nadun Wickramaratne alias Harak Kata. The father of Harak Kata had filed this writ petition seeking an order directing the authorities to take all necessary measures to ensure the safety of the detainee in accordance with the law. Deputy Solicitor General Shanil Kularatne appearing for the Attorney General informed Court that more..

Mar 20 (EN) SL’s ruling class is postponing elections fearing a transfer of power to the people and the govt would hold the upcoming local polls without delay if it meant a victory to opposition leader Sajith Premadasa, NPP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake said. Speaking at a rally in Homagama on Sunday, Dissanayake said for every day the local govt election is delayed, his party, JVP-led NPP’s, strength will grow. more..

Mar 20 (Island) Velox Partners, a tech-based legal process outsourcing (LPO) firm, expanded its presence into Colombo to augment its existing law firm. Velox commenced operations in January 2020 prior to the onset of the pandemic. Today, it has expanded its services across numerous verticals Commercial law, Litigation, Conveyancing and Company Secretarial Services, with Legal Process Outsourcing (LPO) Services being the core. It is geared as a fully-fledged legal service more..

Mar 20 (CT) Environmentalists in Nuwara Eliya opposed the cutting of undecayed fertile trees and trees that were more than 50 years within the Nuwara Eliya city limits and several surrounding areas such as Udyana Road, near the racecourse and Upper Lake Road. He said during British rule, cypress trees were planted to protect the water resources and for the environmental and aesthetic beauty of the Nuwara Eliya area in keeping with environmental concepts of the Governors more..

Mar 20 (AN) About 50 thousand garment workers have lost their jobs due to the economic crisis. The country is home to more or less 300 manufacturing companies that employ 350 thousand workers, who in turn support an estimated 700 thousand family members. These companies produce garments for dozens of major international brands based in the US and Europe, including Victoria's Secret, Marks & Spencer, more..

Mar 20 (DM) Colombo High Court today resumed recording evidence from the prosecution witnesses in a corruption case filed against two accused including former North Central Province Chief Minister S.M. Ranjith. Bribery Commission had filed indictments before Colombo High Court against former North Central Province Chief Minister S.M. Ranjith Samarakoon and his private secretary Shanthi Chandrasena, spouse of former Minister S.M. Chandrasena for allegedly causing more..

Mar 20 (TM) The SL armed forces need to improve its cross-service cooperation in line with global military trends, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Shavendra Silva told Security Forces Hq (Mullaitivu) yesterday. CDS’s statement comes in the wake of the government’s move to initiate long overdue defence reforms, through “Defence 2030 review’. Although the review process is in its early stages, The govt is keen on integrating the branches of armed forces to create a more streamlined, more..

Mar 20 (TM) Responding to allegations by the Minister Wijedasa Rajapaksa PC on a high number of false reports on narcotics related cases by some police stations, National Police Commission (NPC) stated that the law enforcement regulatory body only received a few complaints on such malpractice. According to the NPC, police officers found responsible in such instances have been dealt with. Last week, the Minister of Justice claimed that certain Police stations are violating laws more..

Mar 20 (CT) Former Digamadulla District MP P.H. Piyasena was killed in an accident near the Alayadivembu Cemetery on the Pottuvil-Akkaraipattu road. Piyasena was riding his motorcycle to the cemetery, to participate in a shramadana to clear the area, as is customary, when he was hit by a private bus bound for Polonnaruwa from Pottuvil. He was rushed to Akkaraipattu Base Hospital and later transferred to Kalmunai Base Hospital, as his condition more..

Mar 20 (EN) Sri Lanka plans to set up infant receiving counters to take in unwanted newborns, Minister for Women, Child Affairs and Social Empowerment Geetha Kumarasinghe said in the wake of incidents that included infanticide. “None of these incidents were due to any financial issues. We have never heard the victims say that they did it out of hunger. A majority of these incidents occur as spousal revenge,” said Kumarasinghe. more..

Mar 20 (TM) The Ministry of Health downplayed the risk of listeria spreading to other parts of the island, stating that the death caused by a listeria infection was an isolated incident as of last evening. Director General of Health Services (DGHS) Dr. Asela Gunawardena said that the concerns which had been raised about the incident had been blown out of proportion. “There is no risk of listeria spreading. It was just one individual who had fallen ill with the sickness,” Dr. Gunawardena said, more..

Mar 20 (TM) Urban Development Authority (UDA) has called for Requests For Proposal (RFPs) from potential investors for several new projects, despite a continued lack of investor interest in the previous projects offered by the UDA amidst the current economic crisis. UDA Deputy Director General E.A.C. Piyashantha revealed that the UDA was yet to receive any interest from investors for the five premier projects offered in January, which included the theme park development project at more..

Mar 20 (FT) Whilst welcoming reports the IMF aid package to SL would be finalised today, SJB MP Eran Wickramaratne said it was imperative lending agencies also give attention to safeguard vulnerable groups. He said the country was still in the dark on the modalities of the IMF agreement, and noted some of the proposals are likely to cause a contraction in the economy that could lead to unemployment & loss of earnings. more..

Mar 20 (AD) Prez’s Office has made a special summons to Neel Hapuhinna, Secretary of the Ministry of Public Administration. Accordingly, he has been called to the Prez’s Office this morning (March 20), in a situation where the media reports came that Neel Bandara Hapuhinna has been removed from his post. When inquired, Mr. Hapuhinna said that he is not aware whether he has been removed from the post of Secretary of Public Adm, but he had been notified to come to Prez’s Office today. more..

Mar 20 (DM) Following failed discussions with the Education Ministry officials today, all teachers' trade unions have decided to gather at the Fort Railways Station on Wednesday (22) to take further decisions about their trade union actions, CTU General Secretary Joseph Stalin said. He said that all teachers' trade unions, including the CTU, the All-Island United Teachers' Union (AIUTU), and the Joint Teachers' Service Union (JTSU), claimed that they would engage in trade union action if more..

Mar 21 (DM) The staff level agreement between SL and the IMF which was arrived at on Sept 1 last year, was to be approved by the IMF Executive Board yesterday and the govt has expressed confidence that SL will receive the first tranche of the EFF under the agreement which is a 48-month arrangement. Country which declared bankruptcy due to its inability to repay the foreign loans in April last year is totally depending now on the bailout package of the IMF for economic recovery. more..

Mar 21 (CT) If the SL Govt is notorious for one thing, that is to maintain white elephants. From Provincial Councils with a hefty -maintenance cost and a questionable efficiency to ever-expanding ministries, Govt institutes, that run constantly at losses and to a few establishments that hardly make any profit at all, there are lots of Govt ventures that give nothing in return to drawing tax payers’ money to merely exist. The latest of such establishments recently came under the limelight as more..

Mar 21 (TM) According to Renewable Energy Council National Chamber Chairman Lakmal Fernando, over 100 domestic Renewable Energy (RE) companies have closed down in Sri Lanka in the past 12 months due to the ongoing economic crisis faced by the country. He stressed that the outstanding debt owed by the CEB to the developers was one of the major issues faced by the industry at present. more..

Mar 21 (DM) The Covid-19 pandemic was transformative for humanity, reminding us that we are social creatures that seek the bonds created by in-person interaction and that these bonds of community are essential to the human condition. There was also a paradigm shift in how we view productivity within an economy, reconfiguring the value we place on different types of work with the realization that blue collar jobs were actually part of the essential work in an economy. more..

Mar 21 (ST) One of the problems with politicians, especially our very own scintillating lot, is that they forget to keep the mouth and feet at either end of their anatomy. It is not surprising, therefore, that all too frequently one ends up inside the other. So it happened the other day in Berlin – the beautiful, historic and once-divided city where I spent nearly five months at the height of the Cold War — when another of our celebrated ministers in that bloated cabinet which is likely to be inflated more..

Mar 21 (TM) “The ongoing economic downturn is not just an economic issue but a personal one. It shattered the relationship that I had with my husband to a great extent, as he now works over 18 hours a day after losing his job last (2022) November, and my older son is leaving the country in a few weeks for employment, as he sees no future in SL. Earning has become the main priority.” This is what 51-yr-old former apparel sector worker more..